Premier League Report: GW26 | OneFootball

Friday, Feb. 21

Leicester 0 – 4 Brentford

Let’s be honest, if this match wasn’t a Friday night feature, it would attract few TV viewers – and certainly my eyeballs would be elsewhere. But it was a lively show, and history was made by both sides. Some good. Some bad.For Leicester, it was the sixth consecutive home game loss without scoring a goal. A Premier League first.For Brentford, this was their fourth consecutive road win, a feat they’ve never accomplished.

Saturday, Feb. 22

Everton 2 – 2 Manchester United

Somehow the soccer gods decreed Man U would get away with a point today, the referee deigning to point to the spot on a 50/50 call in the box in the waning seconds. So it goes. For the Toffees, it’s a sixth consecutive non-loss. For the Red Devils, this was a magician’s gambit of an escape after their somnambulance (not a word but should be)in the opening half.magician’s gambit of an escape after their somnambulance in the opening half.

Fulham 0 – 2 Crystal Palace

My boyz from Croydon did the business today. I’m sure Joachim Andersen was looking to score against his old colors, but ended up putting it in his own net. Ha! Traitor got served! Jean-Philippe Mateta had a goal called back, but it was Daniel Muñoz’s blistering strike to the top netting that sealed it.FACT: Since Christmas, Crystal Palace have the 5th best record in the PL.

Arsenal 0 – 1 West Ham United

Wow. This was huge. With Liverpool fumbling in the past weeks, Arsenal had the golden opportunity to apply pressure. West Ham had a different agenda. The first half was a nervy chess match affair until Jarrod Bowen bookended a classic counter. He took the ball from his own end and passed through to Aaron Wan-Bissaka, who drove up the right side and delivered a picture-perfect cross onto Bowen’s noggin. Arsenal had no answer. Myles Lewis-Skelly got his second red in a month for DOGSO; no chance this one gets scrubbed.

Bournemouth 0 – 1 Wolverhampton Wanderers

That Bournemouth challenge was a clear red, so shed no tears Cherries fans. Your team has the quality to win with ten, but Wolves just sat on Matheus Cunha’s 36th minute goal and ground the victory out. With Leicester’s loss on Friday, Wolverhampton suddenly create separation in the danger zone.

Ipswich Town 1 – 4 Tottenham Hotspur

Tottenham fans will be crowing lustily after this match that their team is “back.” And I won’t argue that Spurs aren’t quite as crap as they were during that six-game PL losing streak. But playing Ipswich at home is as close to a sure-win as playing Southampton anywhere, and despite the scoreline it wasn’t quite tiptoeing through the tulips for the visitors. But you know what Spurs fans? It’s been a tough season. We’ll let you squawk until the City match on Wednesday.

Southampton 0 – 4 Brighton Hove & Albion

Please do not feign surprise. We all know the Saints would lose; the only debate was by how much.

Aston Villa 2 – 1 Chelsea

Chelsea came out bright in the first half. Aside from his 9th minute goal, Enzo Fernandez pulled another shot inches off the frame and Cole Palmer had one deflected wide. Villa entered the dressing room lucky to be down only one. Then came the second half. Villa put Marcus Rashford on the pitch. Rather than build upon their momentum, Chelsea stalled. Emery’s substitution paid off when he fed Marco Asensio a sitter to draw them level. Villa continued to apply pressure, substituting four fresh sets of legs as the half progressed. Ultimately it was a howler from keeper Filip Jørgenson that sunk Chelsea, as he let Asenio’s shot off the set piece slip through his grasp. In two months, Chelsea have mustered four wins (vs. Shamrock Rovers, League 2’s Morecambe, Wolverhampton and West Ham) with six losses and three draws. Poor, some would say. I’ll keep it shorter: Poo.

Sunday, Feb. 23

Newcastle United 4 – 3 Nottingham Forest

You’d be hard pressed to argue for a more exciting match this weekend. In an eleven minute span Newcastle were a tornado, with the Forest defense a hapless trailer park. Forest dug in and clawed a pair back but ultimately short. It’s three defeats in four for Nottingham, and their third place spot is in danger. Isak joined the 50 goal club in his 76th match, 10th fastest in PL history.

Manchester City 0 – 2 Liverpool

‘S’ for Superman. And for Salah. And Szoboszlai. This dynamic duo undid the defending league champions with equal parts composure and aplomb, all before the first half whistle. The Egyptian King (Salah) notched his 25th goal and 16th assist, eclipsing the Egyptian Prince (Marmoush), the latter’s goal called back for offsides. This was a Manchester City side who had 67% possession and twice as many shots, all for nought. Even when City danced and passed in Liverpool’s third, it never felt threatening. Dominating a game without possession is a trick champions pull off.